5 Dec, 2006
McDonald's tries to shape up health image with high-tech mini-gyms
McDonald's, often blamed for childhood obesity, is testing high-tech mini-gyms for kids at seven stores in California, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. The gyms have gizmos for kids ages 4 to 12, from stationary bikes with kid-friendly video screens to hoops courts that electronically cheer players.
If R Gyms — named for Ronald McDonald, of course — are a hit, McDonald's could roll out "a significant number" over the next year, says William Whitman, a McDonald's spokesman. The mini-gyms would replace PlayPlaces — of which there are 5,500 nationwide.
Not everyone is a fan of the new R Gyms. Critics say they're just an image-bolstering bid by Mickey D's — or an attempt to dodge obesity lawsuits or legislation.
Parents may overestimate the benefit of R Gyms and presume kids can eat more junk food, says Kelly Brownell of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. "A kid can burn 20 calories from the exercise but take in 200 calories from a milkshake."
Whitman says McDonald's is doing the right thing. "Those who criticize McDonald's and the sincerity of our efforts have not been paying attention," he says. Improvements in its menu and nutritional information are "compelling evidence that McDonald's is serious."
The mini-gyms reward kids with flashy videos and electronic messages — but only while kids exercise.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story usatoday.com, 12/04/06
Would you like fries with that?
Losing pounds while eating quarter-pounders!
What does today's God's Story teach us about shaping up?
In today's passage, the apostle Paul is giving a warning about false teachers. He makes it clear that if we're going to be able to face false teachers, we must be spiritually fit.
If you are a student, you have lots of opportunity for exercise at school or through summer sports. You might be someone whose job involves lots of physical activity. Perhaps you like to visit a health club or maybe you just hit the pavement! Are you in shape both physically and spiritually?
It's important to get physical exercise, but it's even more important to get spiritual training. As we allow God's Spirit to make us more like Jesus, we will not only be growing in intimacy with God, but we will be strong enough to withstand the temptation to give in to what is "politically correct" rather than Biblically true. Plus, God will use us to accomplish some serious "body" building as we do our part to help build His Kingdom!
How's your spiritual muscle tone?
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Thank God for the fact that in He is strong in our weakness. Confess any way in which you may have become a spiritual couch potato. Ask His Holy Spirit to give you the discipline you need to get spiritually fit. Thank Jesus that He will stretch you to the point that you develop some muscle to add to His "body". Praise Him for the privilege you have to help build up His Kingdom!
- Ask another follower of Jesus who you think is spiritually fit to suggest to you how to train in Godliness.
- Try an exercise like running or biking where you can pray while you work out. Do this for 15 minutes a day for two weeks and see what happens physically and spiritually!
- Memorize 1st Timothy 4:8 as a reminder to get in shape both physically and spiritually.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Exercise or work out regularly with at least one person you are trying to introduce to Jesus. Use this time to learn his or her story and be ready to share how Christ has changed your story.
- Getting a good spiritual muscle tone will help you recognize false teaching. Ask Jesus for the strength to help others who are being sucked into unbiblical views of God's Story.
- Take a friend out to McDonald's and talk about what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE.
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